The final game of Round 6 takes us to Patersons Stadium, as West Coast Eagles take on the Western Bulldogs. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 4.40pm AEST.
It hasn’t been a season that’s gone according to plan for either club, but for both clubs here is an important chance to pick up four competition points to get the season back on track.
The Eagles, after finals appearances in the last two seasons, had hopes of going further this year and becoming premiership contenders.
But just one win has come from their first five games, and of major concern is that they’ve struggled to complete four quarters.
It was a trend that first became apparent in the season opener, when the Eagles blew an early lead to go down to the Dockers.
But the biggest example of this was last weekend, when the Eagles had Port Adelaide on the ropes at half time; but went missing in action in the second half to lose a game that had looked safely theirs all day.
The Eagles have struggled with injuries this season, missing key personnel.
But this week they welcome back one of their biggest names. Nic Naitanui returns from injury, bolstering their ruck stocks and giving them more options around the ground.
Naitanui’s inclusion also relieves some of the pressure on Dean Cox, who has shouldered plenty of responsibility this season.
Sharrod Wellingham, after crossing over from Collingwood, makes his first appearance for the Eagles in this game.
The Bulldogs have also struggled this year, and also only have one win to show for their efforts. That win came in the opening round, a big result against the Brisbane Lions.
But against the top teams, the lack of firepower has been all too apparent.
Further weakening the Bulldogs this week is the suspension of Brett Goodes, who had adapted well to AFL footy in the opening rounds of the season.
But the Bulldogs do have some quality in their line-up. Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney is still there, while Matthew Boyd will get plenty of the ball and Luke Dahlhaus continued his rise up the rankings.
In the last meeting of these two clubs, Josh Kennedy kicked ten goals for the Eagles to spearhead a big win.
And with the home ground advantage, and Kennedy again likely to line-up on the forward line for the Eagles; West Coast will go into this game as strong favourites.
But there’s four points up for grabs, and a chance to get the 2013 season back on track. There’ll be no easy possessions in this game, and no team is going to lie down without a fight. The stakes are too high.
Join us here on The Roar as we take you through the evening’s action. The match will commence at 4.40pm AEST (2.40pm local).
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Great games from Masten, Darling, Cox, Shuey, and a few others. A football by the numbers sort of win. Few thrills, good to see Nic Nat start well.
mds1970
Roar Guru
It wasn't close, it was a comprehensive performance by a West Coast side that needed a big performance to get their season back on track and achieved exactly that. Plenty of star power around the ground. On the forward line, Jack Darling scored five goals in the first half, before Josh Kennedy took over as the spearhead to score four in the second. Dean Cox also chipped in with four. Shuey and Masten were ball magnets. And the Eagles will be especially pleased that they were able to ease Nic Naitanui back into senior football; and he was able to make an impact when he came on as sub. The Bulldogs tried hard, but were again out of their depth against a West Coast side that had come to play. Thanks for joining us on The Roar for what was a big Sunday afternoon of footy.
mds1970
Roar Guru
West Coast 21.11 (137) def Western Bulldogs 10.7 (67) Goals : West Coast - J Darling 5, J Kennedy 4, D Cox 4, M LeCras 3, L Shuey 2, J Hill, M Priddis, C Masten, Bulldogs - C Smith 2, J Stringer, M Wallis, J Tutt, J Macrae, N Lower, L Jones, A Cooney, D Addison. Best : West Coast - M Priddis, S Selwood, C Masten, L Shuey, D Cox, M LeCras. Bulldogs - C Smith, L Picken, L Jones, A Cooney, D Cross, M Boyd.
JR Salazar
Guest
NicNat! Welcome back, boss.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Final score - West Coast 21.11 (137) defeated Western Bulldogs 10.7 (67)
mds1970
Roar Guru
NicNat gets one last possession, drives it forward for Josh Hill to mark - 25 out, tricky angle. The final siren sounds. Hill with a kick after the siren, against his old club. Puts it through; and the Eagles win by 70.
mds1970
Roar Guru
29 minutes - West Coast 20.11 Bulldogs 10.7 Dalziel to Smith to Kennedy on the lead; and the number 17 marks 35 out on a bit of an angle. His kick isn't a good one, after a distinctive run-up; and it's a point.
mds1970
Roar Guru
28 minutes - West Coast 20.10 Bulldogs 10.7 Bulldogs run the length of the field, delivering to Tutt 45 out, but the shot misses.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Eagles go forward, Scott Selwood evades a Bulldog tackler and goes long to the end of the square; but friendly fire. Darling & Kennedy collide. Kennedy's OK, but Darling looks to have done a corked thigh - he's going off.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Eagles again chip around the half-back line. Ball spills out of bounds on the wing. We're counting down to the final siren now.
mds1970
Roar Guru
25 minutes - Eagles 20.10 Bulldogs 10.6 Now the Eagles drive the ball forward with Schofield taking a run and three bounces up the wing before looking Darling who goes short to LeCras. LeCras on a tight angle plays on & misses. From the kick-in, Darling forces a turnover & snaps but misses.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Ball out of bounds on the wing for another throw in. The sting looks to have gone out of the contest now, with the result of the game now well and truly decided. Eagles switch play to get the ball out of defence. Now chipping it around the half-back line, exploiting the Bulldogs' lack of manning up.
mds1970
Roar Guru
19 minutes final quarter - West Coast 20.8 Western Bulldogs 10.6 Andrew Gaff forces a turnover in the centre, and gives it to Matt Priddis unmarked 30 out. Plays on to add another and get the margin over 10 goals.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Players from both sides cramping, after what's been a hard-running afternoon. The only major injury concern is Lower's eye - he's being worked on from the bench
mds1970
Roar Guru
18 minutes - West Coast 19.8 Bulldogs 10.6 Free kick to Josh Kennedy for being held behind play, gifts Kennedy a shot from 20 out. Kennedy makes no mistake, kicks his 4th.
mds1970
Roar Guru
16 minutes - Eagles 18.8 Bulldogs 10.6 From the ball-up, Josh Hill get the ball and blazes away from well outside 50, for a point.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Nick Lower cops a knock near the eye. Eye bleeding. Receiving treatment & now going off.
mds1970
Roar Guru
13 minutes final quarter - Eagles 18.7 Bulldogs 10.6 Bulldog centre break. Ball goes to a leading Liam Jones 35 out. Goes back & kicks truly.
mds1970
Roar Guru
12 minutes - West Coast 18.7 Bulldogs 9.6 From the kick-in, Eagles go coast to coast. Josh Kennedy leads out & marks 45 out. Goes back, kicks his 3rd.
mds1970
Roar Guru
10 minutes - West Coast 17.7 Bulldogs 9.6 Another attempt by the Bulldogs. Dahlhaus dribbles it to the square. Two opponents wrestling each other, neither can get a possession, and the ball spills through for a point.